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Read Ebook: De lynch-wet by Aimard Gustave Rochussen Charles Illustrator Cnopius L C Lodewijk Christiaan Translator
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Ebook has 4539 lines and 112886 words, and 91 pages
In Thebes, he said.--That which men seek amain They find. 'Tis things forgotten that go by.
OEDIPUS.
And where did La?us meet them? Did he die In Thebes, or in the hills, or some far land?
CREON.
To ask God's will in Delphi he had planned His journey. Started and returned no more.
OEDIPUS.
And came there nothing back? No message, nor None of his company, that ye might hear?
CREON.
They all were slain, save one man; blind with fear He came, remembering naught--or almost naught.
OEDIPUS.
And what was that? One thing has often brought Others, could we but catch one little clue.
CREON.
'Twas not one man, 'twas robbers--that he knew-- Who barred the road and slew him: a great band.
OEDIPUS.
CREON.
So some men thought. But La?us lay slain, And none to avenge him in his evil day.
OEDIPUS.
And what strange mischief, when your master lay Thus fallen, held you back from search and deed?
CREON.
The dark-songed Sphinx was here. We had no heed Of distant sorrows, having death so near.
OEDIPUS.
It falls on me then. I will search and clear This darkness.--Well hath Phoebus done, and thou Too, to recall that dead king, even now, And with you for the right I also stand, To obey the God and succour this dear land. Nor is it as for one that touches me Far off; 'tis for mine own sake I must see This sin cast out. Whoe'er it was that slew La?us, the same wild hand may seek me too: And caring thus for La?us, is but care For mine own blood.--Up! Leave this altar-stair, Children. Take from it every suppliant bough. Then call the folk of Thebes. Say, 'tis my vow To uphold them to the end. So God shall crown Our greatness, or for ever cast us down.
Who sent this answer, Phoebus, come confessed Helper to Thebes, and strong to stay the pest.
And I-?! I-?! Apollo, the Pure, the Far-smiter; O Three that keep evil away, If of old for our city's desire, When the death-cloud hung close to her brow, Ye have banished the wound and the fire, Oh! come to us now!
And lastly for the murderer, be it one Hiding alone or more in unison, I speak on him this curse: even as his soul Is foul within him let his days be foul, And life unfriended grind him till he die. More: if he ever tread my hearth and I Know it, be every curse upon my head That I have spoke this day. All I have said I charge ye strictly to fulfil and make Perfect, for my sake, for Apollo's sake, And this land's sake, deserted of her fruit And cast out from her gods. Nay, were all mute At Delphi, still 'twere strange to leave the thing Unfollowed, when a true man and a King Lay murdered. All should search. But I, as now Our fortunes fall--his crown is on my brow, His wife lies in my arms, and common fate, Had but his issue been more fortunate, Might well have joined our children--since this red Chance hath so stamped its heel on La?us' head, I am his champion left, and, as I would For mine own father, choose for ill or good This quest, to find the man who slew of yore Labdacus' son, the son of Polydore, Son of great Cadmus whom Agenor old Begat, of Thebes first master. And, behold, For them that aid me not, I pray no root Nor seed in earth may bear them corn nor fruit, No wife bear children, but this present curse Cleave to them close and other woes yet worse. Enough: ye other people of the land,
Whose will is one with mine, may Justice stand Your helper, and all gods for evermore.
LEADER.
Our other clues are weak, old signs and far.
OEDIPUS.
What signs? I needs must question all that are.
LEADER.
Some travellers slew him, the tale used to be.
OEDIPUS.
The tale, yes: but the witness, where is he?
LEADER.
The man hath heard thy curses. If he knows The taste of fear, he will not long stay close.
OEDIPUS.
He fear my words, who never feared the deed?
LEADER.
Well, there is one shall find him.--See, they lead Hither our Lord Tiresias, in whose mind All truth is born, alone of human kind.
riep hij.
De Indianen, die blijkbaar alleen op de komst van hun chef hadden gewacht, volgden hem onmiddellijk.
Weldra ijlde de geheele troep met den Onbekende aan het hoofd in vliegenden galop voorwaarts, gehuld in een dikke wolk van stof die zij rondom zich opjoeg.
Na een rit van vijf uren, die in snelheid alle beschrijving voorbijstreeft, zagen de Indianen in de blauwende verte de hooge torenspitsen eener stad boven eene massa rook en dampen uitsteken.
De Zoon des Bloeds en zijn troep hadden de grenzen van het Verre Westen bereikt en waren buiten de woestijn.
De Roodhuiden reden een weinig links af en galoppeerden dwars door de velden en bouwlanden, met roekeloozen moedwil de rijpe oogsten vertrappende die ze bedekten.
Na verloop van omtrent een half uur bereikten zij den voet van een heuvel die zich midden in de vlakte verhief.
>>Wacht mij hier," riep de Onbekende, zijn paard inhoudende; >>en wat er ook gebeure, verroert u niet voor dat ik weder bij u kom."
De Indianen bogen ten teeken van gehoorzaamheid en nu zijn paard de sporen gevende reed hij met gevierden teugel weg.
Deze rit duurde niet lang.
Nauwelijks was de Zoon des Bloeds uit het oog zijner volgers of hij hield stil en steeg af.
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